Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

I never knew the plural of Suarez.  Thank you…

It's simple: add an -es.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

I don't trust Bello, it's been enough time to see growth IMO.  But of course I really like the starting rotation.  I see Sandoval and Early filling out the rotation in a really left handed dominated starting staff. But I don't see much of a market for Bello so I guess they will run it back again and see if he has learned how to utilize his good stuff. 

I still don't like a lineup filled with so many holes and question marks and without that big stick (or 2).  I'm not as confident as most that Marco Mayer can hit major league hitting and that will be a key.  I'm also convinced so many of the errors were throwing errors by the infield, Bregman was certainly guilty as well.  A legit first baseman will fix a lot of these problems.  

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I don't trust Bello, it's been enough time to see growth IMO.  But of course I really like the starting rotation.  I see Sandoval and Early filling out the rotation in a really left handed dominated starting staff. But I don't see much of a market for Bello so I guess they will run it back again and see if he has learned how to utilize his good stuff. 

I still don't like a lineup filled with so many holes and question marks and without that big stick (or 2).  I'm not as confident as most that Marco Mayer can hit major league hitting and that will be a key.  I'm also convinced so many of the errors were throwing errors by the infield, Bregman was certainly guilty as well.  A legit first baseman will fix a lot of these problems.  

Our everyday players look bottom third according to fangraph projections. That is frightening!

I have seen growth by Bello, and many of the numbers show it. Some show flatlined, but at a decent level.

Last 3 years...

Bad: K-BB% 13.0>12.7>9.3

Meh: FIP 4.54>4.19>4.19

Good: ERA- 95>107>78

FIP-: 105>102>100

WHIP 1.34>1.36>1.24

Hard Hit %: 35.1>31.2>30.8

He looks to be a top 2-3 #4 SP'er in MLB. He's better than half the league's #3 SP'ers and quite a few teams' #2.

 

[mvp 78]

29 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I don't trust Bello, it's been enough time to see growth IMO.  But of course I really like the starting rotation.  I see Sandoval and Early filling out the rotation in a really left handed dominated starting staff. But I don't see much of a market for Bello so I guess they will run it back again and see if he has learned how to utilize his good stuff. 

I still don't like a lineup filled with so many holes and question marks and without that big stick (or 2).  I'm not as confident as most that Marco Mayer can hit major league hitting and that will be a key.  I'm also convinced so many of the errors were throwing errors by the infield, Bregman was certainly guilty as well.  A legit first baseman will fix a lot of these problems.  

I think the lineup can work itself out over time. I think having positional holes is a bigger problem. Specifically worrying about "who is the #2 hitter" just seems silly at this point. I don't think lineups really need to work that way.

Go out and acquire someone that is an average to above fielder at 2b or 3b, preferably a RHB. 

[Hugh2]

One trend I've been noticing is the Sox almost NEVER sign the guy that there is reported interest on, and they usually make a signing or a trade for a guy with seemingly little to no smoke. 

The most smoke I saw around an acquisition this year was Wilson Contreras. 

Kind of gives you hope that they're not done and a move is in the works to fix the infield. 

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

34 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think the lineup can work itself out over time. I think having positional holes is a bigger problem. Specifically worrying about "who is the #2 hitter" just seems silly at this point. I don't think lineups really need to work that way.

Go out and acquire someone that is an average to above fielder at 2b or 3b, preferably a RHB. 

I compared our lineup with the Yankees in that playoff series and they weren't even close. We don't have that big bat that scares teams and the lineup had no depth.  Just too many weak or below average or average hitters all down the lineup.  

[drewski6]

37 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think the lineup can work itself out over time. I think having positional holes is a bigger problem. Specifically worrying about "who is the #2 hitter" just seems silly at this point. I don't think lineups really need to work that way.

Go out and acquire someone that is an average to above fielder at 2b or 3b, preferably a RHB. 

So go gangbusters fixing the pitching, make sure you are rock solid defensively, and just let the hitting work itself out

But its pitchers who come out of nowhere (see Early). Every year the top 30 pitchers varies much more widely than hitters.  And with all the punch outs in the game today, focusing on defense is not the way.

It gets really hard to watch a team that cant score.  The hitting didnt work itself out last year, we were noodlebat city upon reaching the playoffs.

The hitting may work itself out, but if you added another very good hitter like we should have done, imagine having that in addition to any breakouts.

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I compared our lineup with the Yankees in that playoff series and they weren't even close. We don't have that big bat that scares teams and the lineup had no depth.  Just too many weak or below average or average hitters all down the lineup.  

Some wisdom here.

[drewski6]

19 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

One trend I've been noticing is the Sox almost NEVER sign the guy that there is reported interest on, and they usually make a signing or a trade for a guy with seemingly little to no smoke. 

The most smoke I saw around an acquisition this year was Wilson Contreras. 

Kind of gives you hope that they're not done and a move is in the works to fix the infield. 

One thing that MVP said to me once that stuck with me is that it kind of takes effort to separate Bloom and Breslow.  Because a large amount of fans see JH as the bad guy, and a swap of BLoom for Breslow isnt particularly consequential - just swapping of "yes man"

And that view, which is shared by a lot, doesnt really bother me, and there may be some elements of truth to both CBOs/GMs having similar restrictions - but it just seems like theres more moves under Breslow and I applaud that.

Breslow is winning me over with the activity.  And I do think there are moves (likely multiple) to follow and im not talking about RP depth.  Im talking impact.  Breslow is impactful.

[mvp 78]

54 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

One trend I've been noticing is the Sox almost NEVER sign the guy that there is reported interest on, and they usually make a signing or a trade for a guy with seemingly little to no smoke. 

The most smoke I saw around an acquisition this year was Wilson Contreras. 

Kind of gives you hope that they're not done and a move is in the works to fix the infield. 

So maybe no Paredes, Donovan or Marte then? Wonder who the IF will be? 

[mvp 78]

32 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

One thing that MVP said to me once that stuck with me is that it kind of takes effort to separate Bloom and Breslow.  Because a large amount of fans see JH as the bad guy, and a swap of BLoom for Breslow isnt particularly consequential - just swapping of "yes man"

And that view, which is shared by a lot, doesnt really bother me, and there may be some elements of truth to both CBOs/GMs having similar restrictions - but it just seems like theres more moves under Breslow and I applaud that.

Breslow is winning me over with the activity.  And I do think there are moves (likely multiple) to follow and im not talking about RP depth.  Im talking impact.  Breslow is impactful.

Bloom grew the farm through the draft and signed a bunch of low end 40 man guys. He would just churn the bottom of the roster. He'd make a big signing here and there (Story/Masa), but he wasn't as active as Breslow. Breslow completely revamped the whole pitching development and it looks entirely different than what it did at the end of 2023. He's focused on raising the ceiling of the MLB pitching and we saw the team get carried to the playoffs last year because of it. I don't think Bloom was capable of doing that. Would Breslow have been able to add Roman Anthony in the 2nd round like Bloom did? IDK. Both guys struggled at the trade deadline. Breslow has been far better in the offseason. I think Breslow has been a little hamstrung with some of the contracts left over by Bloom, but it wasn't a complete disaster TBH. Breslow is very model driven. Bloom was better at balancing scouting with the models. 

[drewski6]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Bloom grew the farm through the draft and signed a bunch of low end 40 man guys. He would just churn the bottom of the roster. He'd make a big signing here and there (Story/Masa), but he wasn't as active as Breslow. Breslow completely revamped the whole pitching development and it looks entirely different than what it did at the end of 2023. He's focused on raising the ceiling of the MLB pitching and we saw the team get carried to the playoffs last year because of it. I don't think Bloom was capable of doing that. Would Breslow have been able to add Roman Anthony in the 2nd round like Bloom did? IDK. Both guys struggled at the trade deadline. Breslow has been far better in the offseason. I think Breslow has been a little hamstrung with some of the contracts left over by Bloom, but it wasn't a complete disaster TBH. Breslow is very model driven. Bloom was better at balancing scouting with the models. 

Bloom was also more professional and polished

[mvp 78]

35 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Bloom was also more professional and polished

I think they are both professional TBH. They just have different skillsets. 

[moonslav59]

Bloom was very methodical in building up the farm and bottom of the 40. He lacked the ability and resources to build up the top of the 26 and 40, but over time, he built up a nice foundation for Brez.

Brez has pretty much swapped out about half the system in 2.3 years. No joke. Especially the pitching. He's also done a much better job than Bloom at adding quality to the top of the 26 and 40, but he has had more money to spend and used a bunch of Bloom's additions to trade for others.

His final grade is still TBD, but on paper, I think Brez has done a lot in such a short time- not all good/great. There were some pretty big mistakes or unfortunate outcomes- however you choose to view them. Some of his "bad moves" still have a bit of TBD in them- like maybe Holobetz for Priester and the Sandoval signing.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Sox almost NEVER sign the guy that there is reported interest on,

If they have an interest, they won't tell you.  Not in BB, and not in the real world.

[Hugh2]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If they have an interest, they won't tell you.  Not in BB, and not in the real world.

I've always thought that what we hear about "interest" is 100% 50% of it if that makes sense. 

Agents have an incentive to leak stuff......teams do not. 

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I think they are both professional TBH. They just have different skillsets. 

Everything is different.  TBH, I'm not sure why fans are comparing the two.  Right now (and one years is not a trend), Breslow is much more like DD than Bloom.  Both DD and Breslow inherited a great young core, are being given a ton of spending money, and are allowed to trade some of the farm.  Bloom is just the opposite.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Everything is different.  TBH, I'm not sure why fans are comparing the two.  Right now (and one years is not a trend), Breslow is much more like DD than Bloom.  Both DD and Breslow inherited a great young core, are being given a ton of spending money, and are allowed to trade some of the farm.  Bloom is just the opposite.

I agree, and Brez would look a lot more like DD had he been given his spending budget day one.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

Everything is different.  TBH, I'm not sure why fans are comparing the two.  Right now (and one years is not a trend), Breslow is much more like DD than Bloom.  Both DD and Breslow inherited a great young core, are being given a ton of spending money, and are allowed to trade some of the farm.  Bloom is just the opposite.

I'm not sure I can compare Breslow to Dombrowski. Dombrowski made a lot of trades, but he would really make a bunch of trades at the expense of the farm. He also had more free reign to go out and acquire a top FA if he wanted. I think Breslow is trying to do he best to compete while maintaining the farm. Dombrowski extended some older guys (Xander too), but Breslow extended lots of younger ones. I think the franchises were just in a similar spot when each CBO took over. Lots of young high end talent ready to replace mediocre talent clogging the MLB roster. Dombrowski made some keen acquisitions to get this team over the hump. We'll see how far Breslow can take them. I'm not sure what this team would look like if Bloom was still here TBH.

[Old Red]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm not sure I can compare Breslow to Dombrowski. Dombrowski made a lot of trades, but he would really make a bunch of trades at the expense of the farm. He also had more free reign to go out and acquire a top FA if he wanted. I think Breslow is trying to do he best to compete while maintaining the farm. Dombrowski extended some older guys (Xander too), but Breslow extended lots of younger ones. I think the franchises were just in a similar spot when each CBO took over. Lots of young high end talent ready to replace mediocre talent clogging the MLB roster. Dombrowski made some keen acquisitions to get this team over the hump. We'll see how far Breslow can take them. I'm not sure what this team would look like if Bloom was still here TBH.

Do you think DD would have landed Bregman if Bregman was plan A during the offseason like he was this year?

[moonslav59]

45 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm not sure I can compare Breslow to Dombrowski. Dombrowski made a lot of trades, but he would really make a bunch of trades at the expense of the farm. He also had more free reign to go out and acquire a top FA if he wanted. I think Breslow is trying to do he best to compete while maintaining the farm. Dombrowski extended some older guys (Xander too), but Breslow extended lots of younger ones. I think the franchises were just in a similar spot when each CBO took over. Lots of young high end talent ready to replace mediocre talent clogging the MLB roster. Dombrowski made some keen acquisitions to get this team over the hump. We'll see how far Breslow can take them. I'm not sure what this team would look like if Bloom was still here TBH.

Is Brez more like Bloom, though?

[moonslav59]

28 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Do you think DD would have landed Bregman if Bregman was plan A during the offseason like he was this year?

I think DD lands Bregman, because I seriously doubt $10-15M over 3 years was about JH saying no.

Now, if JH is the one saying "DO NOT GIVE no Trade Clauses," then maybe my opinion changes, but I'm not sure Breggie says no, if we matched the Cubs on everything except that clause. I think he'd be in a Sox uniform with DD.

Maybe, someday, we'll be glad we have Ranger not Breggie, just like nobody talking about wishing Bogey was here, anymore.

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think DD lands Bregman, because I seriously doubt $10-15M over 3 years was about JH saying no.

Now, if JH is the one saying "DO NOT GIVE no Trade Clauses," then maybe my opinion changes, but I'm not sure Breggie says no, if we matched the Cubs on everything except that clause. I think he'd be in a Sox uniform with DD.

Maybe, someday, we'll be glad we have Ranger not Breggie, just like nobody talking about wishing Bogey was here, anymore.

I think the negotiation tactic by Brez had a hand in how it turned out as well, but either way I wouldn’t have given Bregman 5 years anyway.

[moonslav59]

Just now, Old Red said:

I think the negotiation tactic by Brez had a hand in how it turned out as well, but either way I wouldn’t have given Bregman 5 years anyway.

Hard to know, but we are both happy Breggie in not with the $175M/5.

The "communication" did not keep us from getting Ranger.

[moonslav59]

If Lorenzen can get $8M/1, maybe guys like Crawford, Sandoval and Harrison are worth more than we think.

[Old Red]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Hard to know, but we are both happy Breggie in not with the $175M/5.

The "communication" did not keep us from getting Ranger.

Not if you’re the highest bidder with no strings attached. Bloom didn’t have any trouble landing Masa either.  Highest bidder by far with no strings.  Most times that’s all it takes.

[JoeBrady]

54 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Do you think DD would have landed Bregman if Bregman was plan A during the offseason like he was this year?

Maybe, but that's neither a positive nor a negative.  Being willing to outbid the rest of the world is meaningless.

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Not if you’re the highest bidder with no strings attached. Bloom didn’t have any trouble landing Masa either.  Highest bidder by far with no strings.  Most times that’s all it takes.

There were stings attached with Breggie.

Yes, it was widely reported the Sox bid against themselves only for Masa. We might have gotten him for $12M x 4 had Bloom waited... maybe even less.

We have seen what waiting does, though.

[mvp 78]

43 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Is Brez more like Bloom, though?

I don't know what this even means. It's not how the world works.

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Being willing to outbid the rest of the world is meaningless.

Untrue.